Duke Price, REHS

Program Manager

Va. Dept. of Health

Office of Environmental Health Services

Division of Onsite Sewage and Water Services

Duke.price@vdh.virginia.gov

804-864-7460

The Basics

1. How do we regulate? Why do we care?

2. What is the regulatory program?

3. Who is regulated (stakeholders)?

4. What is the role of DEQ and VDH?

5. How do we solve problems?

Private water supplies and onsite sewage systems:

The “Not-So” Basics (subtleties, politics,

philosophy, social responsibilities, etc.)

1. Planning and zoning tool

(Where to Develop?)

2. Building Permit Program

(What can develop?)

3. Mass Sewage Disposal Systems

4. “Cutting-edge” Technology

5. Money & Property Rights

Private water supplies and onsite sewage systems:

How do we regulate private water & sewage?

Title 32.1-164 of the Code of VirginiaThe Private Well Regulations (1990)The Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations

(1972, 1982, 1989, 2000)The Discharge Regulations (1992)The AOSE RegulationsGuidance, Memoranda, & Policy The Indemnification Fund

Who are

the

stakeh

olders?

Why do we regulate? (The Hydrologic Cycle)

What’s in Wastewater?

What’s in Wastewater?

1. Water (99 Percent)

2. Organics & Nutrients

3. Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG)

4. Inorganics and other solids

(Hair, cloth)

5. Virus and Bacteria

6. Heavy Metals

7. Ammonium, Phosphates

Why do we care?

1. Over 100 enteric viruses excreted in the feces of man.

2. Filtration by the soil is minimal because of their small size (< 250 nm).

3. Can initiate significant waterborne disease.

VIRUSESVIRUSES

Groundwater may be affected by…….

Groundwater may be affected by…….

1. Waterborne outbreaks from Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and others.

2. Typical concentration of 4.2 x 107 organisms in STE

3. Adsorption and filtration reduce survival rates (well- drained fine medium textured soils helps greatly).

4. Movement in coarse textures or high water tables may be significant.

BACTERIABACTERIA

HOW DO WE PROTECT GROUNDWATERGROUNDWATER AND PUBLIC HEALTHPUBLIC HEALTH?

LANDSCAPE POSITION SOIL TYPE

VERTICAL OFFSET DEFINE SITE

The Site EvaluationThe Site Evaluation

Creeping Failure

System Failure

ApplicationApplicationSite EvaluationSite Evaluation

System DesignSystem DesignPermit IssuedPermit Issued

System ConstructionSystem ConstructionInspectionInspection

Operation PermitOperation Permit

First Flush

FailureNo Risk Risk

Timeline: Years

Current Regulatory Paradigm

•All steps treated equally

•No risk assessment

•No performance monitoring

•No maintenance program

0 30

(15 days)

Stakeholder ideas and comments

Regulatory Change

Regulatory Adoption

The Stakeholder Input Process

Virginia Association of Professional Engineers

Virginia Association of Professional Soil Scientists

Virginia Homebuilders Association

Virginia Association of AOSEs

Virginia Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association

Virginia Environmental Health Association

Virginia Department of Health Employees

Virginia Academic Community

Virginia Septic Contractor Community

VDH Public health Due diligence Regulate private, onsite Public Water Supplies

DEQ Primacy Spills State Water Control Bd. Large discharges

 Air Check VirginiaAir QualityBrownfield/Land RenewalChesapeake Bay ProgramCitizen MonitoringClean Marina ProgramComputer & Electronics RecyclingConstruction AssistanceEnvironmental EducationEnforcementEnvironmental ExcellenceEnvironmental Impact ReviewFederal ConsistencyEnvironmental ManagementeProcurementFederal FacilitiesGround Water ProtectionInnovative TechnologyISO 14001Oyster Heritage Program

Ozone and Particle Pollution MonitoringPetroleum ProgramsPollution PreventionPower PlantsRecycling & Litter PreventionSARA Title IIISmall Business AssistanceSuperfundTotal Maximum Daily LoadsToxics Release InventoryVirginia Coastal ProgramVehicle Emissions InspectionsVirginia NaturallyVoluntary RemediationWaste ManagementWaste TiresWastewater EngineeringWastewater TreatmentWater QualityWater Resource Management

DEQ

Drinking WaterOffice of Drinking Water - Source Water Assesment Program - Very Small Water Systems - Drinking Water State Revolving Fund ProgramEpidemiologyEpidemiology ProgramImmunizations Waterborne Hazards Control Tuberculosis ControlSTD/AIDS  - AIDS Drug Assistance Program - Chlamydia Prevention Program - HIV Prevention Program - Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention - Virginia Vaccines for Children ProgramHealth Hazards Control - Radiological Health Program - Toxic SubstancesBedding and Upholstery InspectionEmergencyEmergency Preparedness and ResponseEmergency Medical Services

VDH

Environmental HealthOffice of Environmental HealthFood and General Environmental ServicesOnsite Sewage and Water ServicesShellfish Sanitation Wastewater Engineering Marina ProgramRestaurant Inspections

VDH

Solving Problems

Hearings, appealsResearch – Va. TechEducation – publicTraining – staffAssessment – need moreSurveillance “

Questions on “The Basics”

1. Why do we regulate? Why do we care?

2. What is the regulatory program?

3. Who is regulated (stakeholders)?

4. What is the role of DEQ and VDH?

5. How do we solve problems?

Private water supplies and onsite sewage systems:

Questions on the “Not-So” Basics

1. Planning and zoning tool

(Where to Develop?)

2. Building Permit Program

(What can develop?)

3. Mass Sewage Disposal Systems

4. “Cutting-edge” Technology

5. Money & Property Rights

Private water supplies and onsite sewage systems: